Raptors parade

It's not just the Raptors in the parade

Their colleagues in the Royal Canadian Air Force's Snowbirds will be flying over the celebration at Nathan Phillips Square.

They were supposed to do so at 12:30 but they've delayed until the team gets there. It will correspond with the end of the national anthem.

(Gerry Angus/USA Today Sports/Reuters)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 5:41:12 PM

Warning for commuters

GO Transit is expecting an "unprecedented" afternoon commute as fans start streaming back to trains and buses post-parade and rally. They are suggesting fans leave work early or wait around in the city until rush hour ends.

Here's your warning!

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 5:44:34 PM

Drake's CBC mic drop

CBC's Greg Ross just threw his mic up to Drake on one of the players' buses.

He snatched it, told the crowd the team was the "greatest in the world" and dropped the mic back down to Ross, who caught it.

Drake had a red cup in hand the entire time.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 5:50:35 PM

Canadian Press

Lost kids, dehydrated fans as fans wait in square

Lost children and dehydrated fans are some of the issues first responders say they are dealing with as a sea of fans awaits the arrival of the Raptors in downtown Toronto.

Fire district chief Stephan Powell says firefighters are dealing with about a dozen calls for dehydration in the packed Nathan Phillips Square outside city hall.

Powell says fans gathered to celebrate the new NBA champions should stay hydrated and leave the crowded areas if they are not feeling well.

Toronto police Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu says several children have been separated from their parents during the parade. She says police will bring the children to 52 Division downtown to be reunited with their parents.

Sidhu says there are no reports of unruly fans or arrests.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 5:52:58 PM

Amid all the chaos ... a quiet moment

Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard relaxes with his girlfriend Kishele Shipley as their daughter Kaliyah naps during the parade.

(Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 5:56:20 PM

And speaking of Kawhi

Here's a few words from him earlier, when he was interviewed on the bus.

"We are the greatest in the world, the champions...we got one with the dip." Mic drop, courtesy of Drake.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:04:41 PM

For those requiring medical attention

We've heard a few reports of fans passing out at City Hall as they wait for the team to arrive. They've still got some distance to go before they get there.

So Toronto Police, Fire and Ambulance have set up a medical post on Bay Street, south of Dundas, east of City Hall.

Crews are advising any people requiring medical attention head there.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:12:17 PM

People as far as the eye can see

Perhaps these are the most revealing photos yet at the sheer number of people out for this parade. Publicly, police are saying at least one million people but it is expected to be far more than that.

Everywhere you look along the parade route, there are people.

The parade is trying to snake its way up University Avenue, but there are fans everywhere.

You can see the small passage that has been made for them.

(Albert Leung/CBC)

(Albert Leung/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:17:39 PM

The rally has started, without the Raptors

The crowd at Nathan Phillips Square is currently singing O Canada. The Snowbirds will soon be flying over the crowd.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:26:49 PM

And there they are

The parade is just around the corner, so the Snowbirds are performing a special Raptors flyby for the fans at Nathan Phillips Square.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:29:08 PM

Here's what the National Anthem sounds like

The view from City Hall, as the crowd sings O Canada.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:30:59 PM

Fans get creative with vantage points

As the parade continues to stream north towards City Hall, fans are having to get strategic to see the parade.

From trucks to poles, here's where they are watching.

(Hyungwon Kang/Reuters)

(Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:36:25 PM

Old victory parades

It's been a while since the city has had a victory parade on this level.

The last one of this magnitude (though perhaps not as big) was in 1993, when the Blue Jays won the World Series for the second time in a row.

There's also this one from 1967, when the Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:42:13 PM

'Greatest moment in Canada'

Etobicoke's Sam Tabit stood since 6:30 a.m. ET on University Ave. waiting to see the Raptors drive by. But the wait and the large crowds were all worth it, he said.

"The people here are great. Everyone was happy to be next to everyone. This is the greatest moment in Canada, right now."

(Mark Gollom/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:44:42 PM

Current location: University Ave. and Queen St.

The players are finally closing in on the area around City Hall. They were supposed to arrive in the area around 12:30 p.m. ET, almost 2.5 hours ago.

The champagne is still flowing off the bus.

(Hyungwon Kang/Reuters)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:53:30 PM

Canadian Press

Some employers are being lax today

The massive response to the Toronto Raptors NBA championship parade has led numerous major employers to take a more flexible approach to work Monday.

Sobeys Inc., an official partner of the Raptors, says it offered about 900 employees in the Greater Toronto Area a paid day off to watch the parade, while also hosting viewing parties for employees across the country.

Insurer Manulife Financial Corp. says it encouraged employees to celebrate the win and to attend the championship parade.

Many other employers say that while they haven't set out an official policy, managers have been encouraged to give employees the day off when possible.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 7:00:28 PM

These fans decided to leave the rally

Carley Lynn said they arrived at Nathan Philips Square at 11 a.m. ET and got really close to the stage with friend Linda Tanfield.

But she said the crowd got too rowdy, and they broke down a barricade. They decided to move to University Ave. and waited hours to watch the parade from there.

"I don't know if it was worth it. I kinda wish I stayed at home and watched the awesome view on TV."

(Mark Gollom/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 7:07:06 PM

"This is the best thing I've ever seen in my whole life." Player Pascal Siakam soaks in the love from the crowd.

Speeches continue with Serge Ibaka

"This is why me and my teammates we cook for you this trophy right here."

The players are keep speeches brief.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 8:13:10 PM

Kawhi Leonard speaks

Leonard thanks his teammates.

"Thank you and like they said, enjoy this."

He caps off his speech with multiple ha's and the team goes crazy.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 8:16:55 PM

Drake speaks

"This is a talented relentless group of guys that put it all on the line," he said.

"These moments are few and far between."

He said this is one of the most important moments that he's ever been on stage in his life and is encouraging crowd members to give each other hugs.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 8:19:41 PM

More information on the shooting

We now know there was a shooting at Bay and Albert Streets, which is not far from City Hall.

The police have located two victims and two others are in custody. Two firearms were recovered. Injuries are serious but not life threatening.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 8:27:41 PM

The rally has ended

Fans are now streaming from the square. Here's some of the aftermath as people leave.

(Dayna Gourley/CBC)

(Dayna Gourley/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 8:32:48 PM

And that's a wrap

As fans start leaving the square, we'll wrap up our live blog coverage for the day.

Clean up crews have been active along the parade route, making sure the streets get back to normal. The commute home will be a sloppy one though with many leaving the city at the same time as rush hour.

With hundreds of thousands on the street, litter has been left behind.